Bermuda-grass cutter



March 5, 1929. R, MccLELLANp 1,704,333

- BERMUDA GRASS CUTTER Filed June 13, 1923 INVENTOR aum/ 22 Mo dial/041d ATTORNEYS cal Patented Mar. 5, 1929.

UNITED STATES- ALVA n. MccLELLANn, or LA MANDA PARK, CALIFORNIA.

BERMUDA-GRASS CUTTER.

Application filed June 13,

This invention relates to a device for severing into lengths Bermuda grass or vegetation of a like character. Bermuda grass has runners which spread over the surface of the ground, taking root at the joints and sending out shoots which bear seed. The runners will eventually extend to comparatively great lengtl'i, interlace with one another and form a Bermuda mat which chokes the growth of desirable grass in lawns. Due to the various rooted sections of the runner, it requires great force to pull the growth from the soil, and such pulling disturbs and damages the root growth of the desirable grass. Various devices have been provided to rake and pull and cut thegrass at one operation. These are difficult of operation and unsatisfactory. The present invention has for its primary object the provision of a device which severs the Bermuda grass into comparatively short lengths, making it easily removable by rakin Another objectof this invention is to provide a device adaptable for cultivating lawns, that 1s, to openthe lawn and provide a seed bed. In addition to the broader objects of this invention, there are certain details of structure whereby a device having rotary cutters weighted to penetrate and cut the Bermudamat and open the lawn is obtained. A still further object is to provide a device which is siniple, durable and economical in construction and easily manipulated.

These objects together with other objects and colresponding accomplishmentsare obtained bynieans of the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. l is a perspective View of a cutter; and Fig. 2 a transverse section therethrough; and Fig. 3 is a section on line III III of Fig. 2, the cutter disks being in elevation.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the cutter comprises a body 3, ground wheels at mounted thereon and'a handle 5 for guiding the cutter and in the structure disclosed herein for propelling the same. The cutter disks are indicated by 6. Although the device shown herein is adaptable for manual propulsion, it will be understood that self propelling means may be added.

The body as shown herein is cylindrical in form and serves as a weight to cause the cutter disks to penetrate the ground. In the periphery thereof are spaced slots 7 to accom- 1928. Serial No. 284,918.

modate the cutter disks 6. In practise the slots are preferably approximately one and one half inches apart as in operation upon Bermuda grass, it is found alc'lvantageous to separate the runners into lengths of about one and one half inches. Extending through the body and bridging-the slots is a shaft 8, which is preferably removable endwise of thebody. Journalled upon the shaft and accommodated in the slots are the cut-- tor disks 6 and at the outer sides of the body, disks 6 are journalled on the shaft. Extending through the body and oft center from the gravitative axis thereof is a shaft 9 providing spindles at its ends upon which are journalled the ground wheels 4. i

The guide handle 5 has a yoke comprising arms 10 which embrace the sides of the body and connected to. the shaft 9. Mounted upon the shaft 9 are braces 11 having elongated slots at the other ends, through which extend boltsupon which are mounted wing nuts 12 for clamping the braces to the yoke arms. p

In the operation of the device, the braces 11 are adjusted in their connection to the yoke so as to elevate thehandle of the device to a height suitable for the ope 'ator. \Vith the ground wheels isupported upon the surface of the ground, and the body 3 a slight distance above, the disks will penetrate the growth on the surface of the ground as best.

shown in Fig. 2. It will be noted that the weight has its center in vertical alinen'lent with the shaft of the cutter disks, thereby most cllcrtively transn'iitting the weight of tin-.lwdy to the disks. The cutterin the posij tion shown in Fig. 2. is pushed and pulled over the surface of the mat to be cut. viously the cutter should be moved crossways to obtain a checkboard severance of the growth. In order to move the cutter from ported from said body so as to project from the periphery thereof, and a guide handle secured to said body.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a Weight body, spindles extending from the sides of said body, ground Wheels mounted on said spindles, spaced cutter disks journalled on and supported from said body so as to project from the periphery thereof, and a guide handle secured to said body.

3. In a device of the character described,

the coniibination of a Weight body, spindles extending from the sides of said body and disposed on an axis off the gravitatiye axis of said body, ground Wheels mounted on said spindles, spaced cutter disks journaled on and supported from said body so as to project from the periphery thereof, and a guide handle secured to said body.

7 i. In a device of the character described, the combination of a Weightbody, spindles extending from the sides thereof, ground Wheels mounted on said spindles, slots in the periphery of said body, cutter disks disposed in said slots so as to project from said body and journalled therein, and a guide handle secured to said body.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination of a Weight body, spindles extending from the sides thereof on an axis off the gravitative axis of said body, ground Wheels mounted on said spindles, spaced cutter disks journalled on and supported from said body so as to project from its periphery, a guide handle having a yoke embracing said body and secured to said spindles, and braces connected to the body at the axis of said disk and to said yoke.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination of a Weight body, spindles 7 extending from the sides thereof on an axis off the gravitative axis of said body, ground Wheels on said spindles, a shaft mounted on said body, spaced cutter disks journalled on said shaft so as to project from the periphery of said body, a guide handle having a yoke embracing said body and secured to said spindles, braces secured to said shaft, and

7 adjustable means securing said braces to the arms of said yoke. "7. In a device of the character described, the combination of a weight body, spindles extending from the sides thereof on an oil the gravitative axis of said body, spaced slots in the periphery of said body, a sha t extending through said body, cutter ks disposed in said body and journallcd on said shaft so as to project from said body, a guide handle having a yoke embraci said body and secured to said spindles, and braces sccured to said shaft and to the arms of said yoke.

b. in a device of the ch a r a 0 te r described, the combination of a Wfiigiii] body, spindles extending; from the sides thereof on an axis oif the gravitativo axis of said body, spaced slots in the periphery of said body, a shaft extending through said body and bridging said slots, cutter disks journalled on said shaft so as to project from the periphery of said body, a guide handle having a yoke 6H1- bracing said body and secured to said spindies, and braces secured to said shaft and to the arms of said yoke.

9. In a device of the character described, the combination of a Weight body, spindles extending from the sides thereof on an axis off the gravitative axis of said body, spaced slots in the periphery of said body, a shaft in said body bridging said slots, cutter disks journallcd on said shaft so as to project from the periphery of said body, a guide handle having a yoke embracing said body and secured to said spindles, braces secured to said shaft, and adjustment means securing said braces to the arms of said yoke.

In Witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this (3th day of June, 1928.

ALVA R. MGCLELLAND 

